Many garden vegetables are ready to harvest all at once—too many to eat. So when Steve picked a bucketful of green beans, I knew we had some work to do. After sharing some with neighbors, we sat down at the dining room table to prepare them for freezing. First, we covered the table with newspaper and placed a big bowl between us for the beans. I like to use a knife, but Steve likes to use his fingers to tear off the ends. Then snap, snap, snap, and pull off any strings. These beans were beautiful—hardly any rust or holes to trim.

Steve rinsed the beans in cold water. I filled my largest pot (8-quart) with water and placed it over high heat. A separate, large bowl of ice water would quickly cool the par-boiled beans. Once the water was boiling, we worked assembly line style.

I added 2 cups beans to the boiling water, cooking for 3 minutes. I removed them from the pot with a slotted spoon to the bowl of ice water. Steve worked at another counter with the food saver, a great device for freezing because it seals and vacuum packs from the plastic bag. (You can use freezer bags or containers.) Once the beans were par-boiled and cooled, Steve sealed them in pint-sized bags. By the time he was done sealing the first batch, I had boiled a second batch, and so on.

Once all the beans were processed, I labeled the bags with the contents and date and brought them downstairs to the deep freeze in our basement. Now we can eat fresh-frozen green beans from the garden this winter by simmering them for 5-10 minutes until tender. See green beans with bacon for a savory side dish.

When my sister Nancy comes to visit from Columbia, Missouri, we always go antique shopping, no question. Earlier this summer, after spending a day in Nebraska City stopping at Finders Keepers, and a day in St. Joseph at Jesse James and Kat & Co., we decided it was time to shop closer to home. Five Mile Corner is the only antique store nearby, so after going there, we tried a clothing store, Posh Consignment Boutique. Although it’s been open for two years, I hadn’t stopped in, but with Nan here, it was the perfect time. I tried on a light grey denim jacket—just what I had been looking for, but it was too big. It fit Nan perfectly and she bought it.

So when we got home, we decided to look online for a denim jacket for me. Nan was sure she could find one. I freeze in the air conditioning in summer, so I always bring a sweater or jacket wherever I go. I wanted one I could wear with jeans, but had three requirements: not too short, not too bleached, not too young looking. Originally, I thought white would be the perfect color for summer, but there were so many colors available we didn’t limit ourselves.

Instead of shopping at one particular online store, Nan typed “denim jacket, misses” into Google. Immediately a number of photos showed up and we looked at several to get an idea of what was available—many of which were too short, too bleached, and too young for me. Of course, I had to consider the price as well. Finally, we found one on clearance from Old Pueblo Traders, probably because it was a deep purple left over from last fall or winter.

We looked carefully to make sure it had all my requirements. It looked like the perfect length. The purple was not too bright. It looked pretty basic with dark brass buttons—nothing too trendy like an extra zipper or wild emblem. AND it was half the price of their white denim jacket, only $19.99. I had never ordered from this website before so I signed up and completed my order.

The jacket arrived a few days after Nan’s visit was over. Just like the photo online, the purple was not too bright, the medium fit well, and the length was good. A keeper! So I threw away the packaging and cut off the tag. However, the first time I wore the jacket I noticed something I hadn’t noticed before: the label was “BendOver” brand. I laughed out loud. That’s when I realized that for the first time in my life, I had ordered old lady clothes. Clothing that would help old people move more easily. Who thought of and decided on this brand name? I wondered. It sounded like a brand used in a “Saturday Night Live” skit. The initials are B.O. What a joke. And get this—the brand “BendOver” is inscribed in cursive writing on every single one of those brass buttons. (At first I thought I could replace them, but they are riveted on.)

So I guess the joke is on me. Yesterday, I received an Old Pueblo Traders catalog in the mail. Can anyone help me find an online store for fiftysomethings that doesn’t scream OLD LADY? Where do you like to shop?